JAMMU, Aug 23: The All J&K NHM Employees Association, Jammu Division, has strongly urged the UT Government to address and concede the genuine and long pending demands of NHM employees working across the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
In a statement issued to the media, the Provincial President of the Association Dr Vikas Sharma said that NHM employees have been serving the Health Department for more than two decades with dedication, sincerity and commitment. Despite rendering their services under challenging circumstances and working day and night to strengthen the public healthcare system, their genuine concerns have remained largely unaddressed by successive regimes.
He said that NHM employees have repeatedly raised their legitimate demands through proper and democratic channels, but the continued delay and lack of a concrete solution has caused a deep sense of disappointment and frustration among the workforce. “Employees who have devoted more than 20 years of their lives to public healthcare deserve dignity, job security and a fair resolution of their long-pending issues,” he added.
The Association also expressed strong resentment over a statement made by the Hon’ble Health Minister in the past, wherein it was stated that the demands pertaining to salary enhancement and other issues of NHM employees had been forwarded to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India. The Association termed the statement as “a mere eye-wash and misleading”, stating that no tangible outcome has emerged so far despite the passage of considerable time. The Association urged the Govt to provide a clear and transparent status of the matter instead of making assurances that fail to translate into concrete action.
Senior Vice President of the Association, Faizan A. Tramboo, said that NHM employees have always maintained discipline and have discharged their duties with utmost dedication, particularly during difficult situations and public health emergencies. He said the employees never wished to adopt the path of agitation, but persistent governmental inaction and the continued neglect of their genuine grievances have compelled them to seriously consider further democratic courses of action.
Mr. Tramboo further said that the Association welcomes the decision of the Kashmir Division NHM Employees Association to provide the Govt a timeline and to wait until the successful conclusion of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra before deciding upon its future course of action. He stated that the Jammu Division stands in complete solidarity with the Kashmir Division and will extend full support to whatever collective decision is taken after 28 August 2026.
The Association appealed to the Chief Minister, J&K, Health Minister, Commissioner Secretary, Health & Medical Education Department, J&K and Mission Director NHM J&K to take the long-pending issues of NHM employees seriously and initiate a meaningful dialogue with representatives of NHM employees from both Jammu and Kashmir Divisions before 28 August 2026.
The Association reiterated that its primary objective is to seek a peaceful, dignified and mutually acceptable resolution of the genuine grievances of NHM employees and urged the Government to take timely and positive steps in the larger interest of the healthcare system and thousands of employees serving under NHM across J&K.